Morris: Our elected leaders not learning how to deal with change

When you begin listening to pre-season Detroit Tigers baseball, you know that winter is essentially over. And while many people fly south for some sunshine and pre-season baseball, other brave souls hook up their snowmobile trailers and head across the Mackinaw Bridge for some great upper peninsula sledding.

Some attend the International 500 Snowmobile Race that has been held every year since 1969 near Lake Superior State College about an hour north of the bridge.

I mention Lake Superior State because of its annual banished words list, which began back in 1977. Some of my recent favorites include "fiscal cliff," "kick the can down the road," "double down" and "jobs creators."

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I'd personally like to suggest a phrase for the upcoming 2013 list. We're still in the first quarter and I'm already tired of the word "sequester." It reminds me that our elected officials simply cannot make tough financial decisions. Instead of any action or long-term planning on such items as the tax code and a national energy policy, they simply put on a band-aid and re-establish the next crisis date.

My readers know of my disdain for our elected officials in Washington. Their inability to tackle long-term financial issues and changing demographics continue to amaze me. As a financial advisor, I work with a lot of people to help achieve their financial goals. Long-term planning means more than functioning paycheck to paycheck and hoping something is left over to invest.

Consider the parents who opened a college savings account and contributed to it every month, regardless of circumstances. It's extremely gratifying to see their pride, realizing how they've helped make their son's or daughter's dreams come true.

Some of my clients have been retired for years and still have a nest egg they can pass on to their heirs or favorite charity. Such goals are achieved because people actually make long-term plans, measure their progress along the way, and stay committed to their goals.

Every day, I work with people from a variety of backgrounds, life experiences and talents. They all take personal responsibility for their lot in life. They didn't just promise a college education for their children. They don't just hope they can afford to retire. They actually take time to plan, to think long term and invest accordingly.

Unfortunately, politicians make empty promises. Long term for them is the next election, not the next generation. We're in an environment of crisis management. Nothing is done until the 11th hour.

People can handle an unpredictable world, but wouldn't a more stable and predictable domestic environment be better? One in which we all live by the same rules and guidelines? Shouldn't our nation's finances be managed in the same judicious way we manage our own personal finances?

I like baseball because it's predictable. First, there's the winter bus tour, then pitchers and catchers report, the preseason games are played and finally it's opening day.

When the season arrives, we know how many outs will be in an inning, how many innings are in a game and how many games in a season. Fans know the rules are the same for all players.

I believe the American people can handle change. What they don't like are the continually changing rules, exceptions to the rules and coping with one self-inflicted crisis after another.

Fax your questions to Ken Morris at 248-952-1848 or e-mail to ken.morris@investfinancial.com. Ken is a registered representative of INVEST Financial, member FINRA, SIPC and is Vice-President of the Society for Lifetime Planning in Troy.